Mystics are back, ready to make another WNBA Finals run

The Washington Mystics took center stage Monday at Media Day. The energetic team had photo shoots and talked with the media about their goals for the season.

“To run it back,” said Forward Myisha Hines-Allen. Just last season the Mystics were in the WNBA Championship for the first time in franchise history but fell short to Seattle Storm. Their championship run came just three months after the Washington Capitals won their first ever Stanley Cup.

Ready to rebuild is team standout guard Kristi Toliver. She led the team in assists and started in all 34 games. This summer, Toliver was a coaching intern for the Washington Wizards during the preseason and that position turned into job. She is now the assistant coach for player development with the Wizards and her fellow teammates couldn’t be happier.

“My teammates ask me to help them break down film now,” she said. Toliver is the first active WNBA player to be an NBA team assistant at the same time.

The Mystics have their starting five and a solid draft pick in Guard Kiara Leslie. Leslie comes from NC State averaging 15.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals. They also picked up Louisville Forward, Sam Fuehring. She averaged 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Also returning to the team is Emma Meesseman, who missed all of last season while preparing to play in the FIBA Women’s Basketball Cup with the Belgian national team. She was named to the tournaments All-Star Five after leading Belgium to the semifinals and a fourth-place finish according to the WNBA.

The Wizards tip off their season May 25 against Connecticut Sun. They will play defending champions Seattle Storm, June 14.